Tag: Matthew

Daily Word

Matthew 20

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 20 – It’s not fair; it is grace.  The economy of Jesus is based on who he is and not what we do.  It is very strange to us earthlings.  In Christ, we get his mercy and not what we deserve. 

The parable of the vineyard workers displays this concept in verses :1-16.  All the workers get fair pay of a day’s wage whether they worked all day, or only showed up at the end.  How did you feel about this?  Were you happy to see those hired on last getting paid as if they had worked all day?  Did your heart expect those hired first to get a bit extra?  

Jesus predicts his death again.  Beloved, there are things going on all around us as we navigate life in this broken world, but one thing remains the most important – Jesus lived, bled, died and was resurrected so that we could have eternal life with him.  Whatever is happening in your life right now, do not get too far away from the loving truth of the Cross.

Jesus asks a question, “What do you want?” He first asks James and John’s mother :21, and then he asks the blind men :32.  

The mother does not understand what she is asking for and Jesus tells her exactly that.  The motive was wrong; it was essentially for prestige. Jesus said NO.  Can you think of a time Jesus said NO to you?  It doesn’t take much hindsight to know what a blessing a NO is!

Now the blind men stirred Jesus’ heart to compassion.  They received the blessing of sight they asked for and their response is wonderful.  Verse :34 concludes with, “Instantly they could see!  Then they followed him.”  

Beloved, may this wake you up to the joy of your Salvation!  You are saved, follow Jesus in gratitude for this gift that he earned on the Cross and freely gave to you.

Daily Word

Matthew 19

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 19 – Jesus gets to the heart of the questions – When I was full of skepticism, I had my list of questions. They were the usual ones, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Was Jesus an actual person or legend?” “Is the bible true?” I sent them to the pastor, expecting an email in return or maybe a sit down discussion. Instead, he ordered a book for me. It answered all of my questions. By reading it, I realized that had the pastor answered my questions, I would have been so busy thinking up the next question I would not have received the answers. What are your questions really asking?

The Pharisees are trying to trip Jesus up on questions (:3). He gets to the heart of the matter by asking questions and reminding them of God’s original intent regarding marriage and divorce.

We get another moment of Jesus with the little children… They are so precious to him! He puts his hands upon their heads and blesses them (:15). Beloved, reread that section, :13-15, close your eyes, imagine his hands upon your head, imagine his words spoken over you. We all have that little child deep inside of us.

The next passage introduces us to a rich man. He considers himself a good man, yet he knows something is missing. He has that deep longing to be ‘good enough’. Jesus gives him such an incredible offer to sell his possessions, give to the poor, then come and follow Jesus. Our Scriptures could speak of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and this guy, but instead we never even learn his name because he could not let go of his earthly ties to come and follow Jesus. Beloved, is anything in your way?

Daily Word

Matthew 18

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 18 – Time with Jesus…. One never knows what kind of wisdom they will receive when time is spent with our Savior. I’m just coming home from a retreat. For five days I learned and leaned into Jesus on levels that were unexpected and precious.

Jesus imparts great wisdom and tenderness in Chapter 18. Did something touch your heart in a brand new way?

For me Jesus’s answer to the disciples swirled with the lost sheep parable and I found myself somewhere in the middle.

“So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” :4

When I first accepted Jesus as my Savior I was very young… maybe 4 or 6 years old. My neighbor asked me if I wanted to go to heaven or hell. I said heaven, repeated her sinners prayer, and that was that. Unfortunately, no one I knew went to church or read the bible, so I had little comprehension of what my faith was and had all but forgotten it when I began to investigate Christianity as a worldly 36 year old. I was so skeptical and about ready to dismiss Jesus all together when I began my quest for truth.

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?” :12

Well, hallelujah! Because I was that lost sheep and Jesus went to great lengths to rescue me back to the flock. We’ve both been celebrating ever since.

Beloved, may you find yourself in Jesus today.

Daily Word

Matthew 17:24-27

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 17:24-27 – The Lord works in mysterious ways. Let’s take a look at this crazy unfolding of events that close chapter 17.

The tax collector raises a question with Peter over Jesus paying Temple tax. Notice that Jesus responds without Peter even asking a question(:25). And he makes Peter think through the logic… Rabbi’s don’t pay tax so why would Jesus? Yet Jesus would rather not cause offense, so he provides the tax by way of miracle(:26).

Lesson one, pick your battles.

Now, Peter is a fisherman. He fishes with nets and brings in lots of fish. Jesus tells him to simply cast a hook and catch only one fish, saying that he will find the money in the fish’s mouth. Peter’s obedience shows a sweet degree of faith and humility by not pointing out how weird and unlikely this is.

Lesson two, when Jesus speaks, just do it. Throw practicalities and ego to the side, and do what he says.

The last sentence in our chapter Jesus says to take the money and give it to them to pay for his tax and Peters. This is even bigger than it seems. Jesus didn’t owe the tax, but he paid it… much like he would lead a sinless life, but pay the cost of sin which is death. AND, he covered Peter’s tax as well much like his sacrificial death would pay the cost for my sin and yours.

Lesson three, Beloved believer, your sins are covered. You are free. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:35

P.s. I’m going to a retreat this week and will be focusing on all that God has for me there. I pray you press on in your reading and we can catch up next week. God bless us all!

Daily Word

Matthew 17:9-22

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 17:9-22 – Repetition is key. Jesus spoke about his death in Matthew 16:21, 17:9-12, and :22. He was preparing his disciples for what comes next.

After this, they came down the mountain to the crowd. A man asked Jesus to heal his demon possessed son, stating that his disciples tried unsuccessfully. Jesus rebukes the demon, and the boy is healed. He rebukes his disciples too, calling them unbelieving, perverse and stating that they have little faith.

Ouch, right? And if they had little faith, what does mine look like? Jesus says with faith just the size of a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for us. (:21)

Jesus’ death and resurrection is everything to Christianity. Jesus knew time was of the essence, perhaps that is why he comes down so firmly on the disciples in verses :14-20.

Beloved, Jesus forewarned his disciples about his death, and we have the privilege of hindsight to know things happened exactly as he said. Jesus is coming back, and has told us so. We look expectantly for the day. May your faith increase as your heart, soul, mind and strength stay focused on Jesus.

Daily Word

Matthew 17

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 17 – When Grandpa Bob and I would go on errands in his old pick up truck, he would say,  “Whoa Nelly,  whoa…” when he was breaking. As a little girl I thought it was amazing that he could talk his truck into stopping. 

We are covering a lot of amazing things right now in Matthew, and I feel the need to say,  “Whoa Nelly, whoa…”  I try to share just enough of my thoughts that you pick up your bible and read for yourself, but Matthew…. It’s just not working for me in Matthew.

I’m finding that the chapters cover so many different moments, and those moments stir my heart in incredible ways.  I don’t want to rush through.   We aren’t on a timeline. So let’s take our time for now. 

Your bible probably has titles within each chapter.   These aren’t Scripture, but they are helpful.  The ESV Bible I’m using today gives us: The Transfiguration, Jesus Heals a Boy With a Demon, Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection, and The Temple Tax – all within our 27 verses.

Read all the way through today and ask yourself what stands out. Are you able to keep up with Jesus from amazing to amazing?   Tomorrow we can dive deeper in verses :1-13.

Daily Word, Uncategorized

Matthew 16

judyinthesky91


Read Matthew 16 – I had a hard time knowing what to say about today’s passage and was reminded that the important part is to keep going. The Holy Spirit will bring these words to light according to his plan and purpose. My job is to simply keep showing up and keep pressing on. Maybe you need to hear this today. Maybe you read the bible and the words seem to swim over your head. Keep pressing on.

In our chapter, the Pharisees and Sadducees try to test Jesus by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus leaves them with an answer to wrestle with, ‘no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah.’

In the next paragraph, the disciples realize they forgot to take bread and get a bit nervous. Jesus simply warns them: “Be careful,” Jesus said, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They were all caught up on a little thing like bread, after watching Jesus multiply a few loaves to feed thousands on two occasions.

Jesus shares some insider information with his disciples in verses :13-21, to which Peter responds, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Jesus rebukes him… it is the strongest rebuke one could ever receive:

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'” :23

Beloved, are you distracted by the little things in life, the ‘things of men’? Jesus tells us, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” :25 May you have eyes for what matters most and live unhindered.

Daily Word

Matthew 15

judyinthesky91

Read Mathew 15 – Jesus,  Jesus,  Jesus…. What a wonderful name. Today, we get to walking with him on the lakeshore…. We get to watch as he takes no bologna off the Pharisees over hand washing, and teaching us what he meant in the exchange. (:1-9)

Jesus gave them (us) courage to offend the Pharisees (false teachers)  by shedding this light on them.  “It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out; this defiles a person. ” :11 And regarding these hypocrites he says,  “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit.” :14

The passage with the Canaanite woman is amazing whenever one is feeling insignificant. :21-28 She has been made to feel insignificant by society and Jesus kind of lets that play out. But she doesn’t let go. She reminds him that even the dogs get the crumbs that fall to the floor…. With Jesus, even a crumb is more than enough! And Jesus answers,  “O woman,  great is your faith! Be it done as you desire.” :28

We walk with Jesus beside the Sea of Galilee, and up a hillside as he teaches and heals people for three days.  Then he feeds them by once again giving thanks for the seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Gratitude can turn not enough into plenty with Jesus. 

Beloved, what do you need to seek Jesus over today? Will you carve out some quiet time to be with him?

Daily Word

Matthew 14

judyinthesky91

Read Mathew 14 – Pride and compassion. Our chapter begins with Herod in torment of a guilty conscience over his order to behead John the Baptist.

I get quesy, heartbroken and outraged when I read what transpired. I wonder if my emotions are like Jesus’s: “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place. ” :13

Some things in life just don’t make sense. Herod acted in pride…. Pride can get a person into a world of trouble, and innocent people fall victim all the time.

Yet the people would not be held back from Jesus. They followed on foot. “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. ” :14

That is our Savior, Jesus. He needed a moment of solitude then he was able to shift from those emotions to compassion for the people who sought him…. People like you and me.

Fantastic things happen from there so I won’t take up anymore of your time. As always. Happy reading~

Daily Word

Matthew 13

judyinthesky91

Read Matthew 13 – Fresh fish today! I like parables. I like it when a picture is painted with words to illustrate a truth. I have grown immensely from each of these parables, but today, the Holy Spirit is drawing my heart closest to The Parable of the Net.

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.” :47-48

I once had a piece of halibut in Alaska that was so good I think I cried! It sat like warm butter on my tongue, with just a hint of sweetness. I could hardly chew and swallow because I wanted the perfection to last. I am certain that fish was swimming in the sea just hours before he made it to my plate. I was grateful to experience him.

I’ve also brought fish home from the market only to realize it was bad fish. It looked delicious in the market, but even through the wrapping it stunk up the kitchen. It went straight to the garbage. It was not worthy of being in my house, much less served to my family.

Beloved, we love people who are bad fish, they may look good on the outside, but their hearts are not redeemed. They will be cast down into the fiery furnace. No one likes to think of themselves in this way, but Jesus is not fooled. A bad fish reeks of foulness and a good fish is a delight in every way.

Now, imagine that you and I are having a conversation. We have both just read Chapter 13, and now we get to talk about what hit home. Beloved, that is what I imagine when I post… that the chapter stirs up something in your heart, and that seeing what was stirred in mine inspires you to share as well with whomever is around you. May your joy keep you fresh and inspire those around you to seek Jesus for themselves.